Self-cleaning gutter and downspout attachment to collect debris



w. G. THOMPSON SELF-CLEANING CUTTER AND DOWNSPOUT May 19, .1959

ATTACHMENT TO COLLECT DEBRIS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1955 Wayne 6. Thompson INVENTOR.

y 9, 1959 w G. THOMPSON 2,887,073

SELF-CLEANfNG GUTTER AND DOWNSPOUT ATTACHMENT TO COLLECT DEBRIS Filed May 10, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v V N a N 5 Q Q I] Q c Q 0; v o 0S u Q I" S k Wayne 6. Thompson IN VEN TOR.

Fig. 2

May 19, 1959 w. G. THOMPSON 2,887,073

SELF-CLEANING GUTTER AND DOWNSPOUT ATTACHMENT TO COLLECT DEBRIS Filed May 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7

Fig. 6

Wayne 6. Thompson INVENTOR.

SELF-CLEANING GUTTER AND DOWNSPOUT ATTACHMENT TO COLLECT DEBRIS Wayne G. Thompson, Charleston, W. Va., assignor of thirty percent to John J. Lane, fifteen percent to Char ley W. Baisdemand fifteen percent to W; Baisden Application May 10, 1955, Serial No. 507,200

2 Claims. (Cl. 108-28) This inventionrelates to a gutter arrangement for use on houses and other buildings, and more particularly to a novel self-cleaning gutter and downspout attachment.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a gutter arrangement so constructed as to eliminate thepossibility of the cakingof-debris or the like within the gutter and downspout whichwould otherwise cause severe damage and deterioration of the gutter.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a glitter arrangement having means for permitting the simple and easy automatic cleaning of the gutter and downspout therefor.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of'a self-cleaning downspout and gutter arrangement having a basket for collecting debris, which is strong and durable, which may be manufactured by simple operations at a relatively low cost, thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this self-cleaning gutter and downspout arrangement, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the self-cleaning gutter and downspout arrangement comprising the present invention as shown operatively installed on a building;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 2--2 in Figure l and illustrating in particular the construction of the basket arrangement for collecting debris;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 4-4 in Figure 2 and illustrating the access opening for withdrawal of the basket;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 5-5 in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of section line 6-6 in Figure 1 and illustrating the composite construction of the gutter including in particular the connection between the inlet opening for the fluid and the gutter conduit;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional detail view illustrating the connection between a pair of adjacent sections of the conduit;

Figure 8 is a partial elevational view in an enlarged scale illustrating the construction of the conduit with the associated depressions in the wall of the gutter for directing the spray of fluid;

Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a modified form of the gutter;

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of a further modification of the gutter; and

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of an additional 2,887,073 Patented May 19, 1959 modification of the gutter main gutter. portion. 6

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a valve control arrangement for use in controlling the flow of fluid to the conduit portion of the gutter arrangement. This valve arrangement includes a hot water control valve 12 and a cold water control valve 14 connected to the inlet conduit 1-61which is connected to an inlet pipe 18 further controlled by a. valve 20. The inlet pipe 16 is connected through a suitable fitting 22 to the conduit portion 24 of the gutter 26.

The fitting 22 includes a collar 28 which is welded to the end of the conduit 18 and is tubular in itself and inserted into the conduit portion 24 of the gutter 26 with the conduit portion 24 welded or soldered to the collar 28 to form a water-tight fitting.

'The gutter 26 may be formed of any number of suitable sections, as is shown in Figure "7, each of whichis arw ranged in abutting relationship and may be welded or soldered to form a seam as at 29.

l The conduit portions 24 are formed in the side wall 30 ofthe gutter26 by,folding or bending portions 32 of the side wall 30 back upon itself in'a cylindrical manner to form the conduit section 24. However, during the bending'operations, as can be seen best in Figure 8, suitable depressions 34j are stamped o'r pressed into the side wall 30 at the portion thereof adjacent the conduit portion 24 to thereby form suitable spray apertures for delivering fluid from the conduit portion 24 into the main portion of the gutter 26. j

At the junctures of the gutter portions, suitable flttings 36 are adapted to be inserted into the conduit portions 24 to thereby assure proper control of fluid flow through the conduit portions. The fittings 36 may include an annular collar 38 to which the conduit portions of the gutter sections may be soldered or welded.

The gutter portion 26 may be provided with an upper shoulder arrangement 40 together with a lower arcuate portion 42, the enlarged shoulder portion 40 being adapted to provide greater area so as to prevent overflow during periods of surge in the amount of fluid passing. In lieu of this arangement of parts, as is shown in Figure 9, a gutter 44 may be utilized having a conduit 46 pressed from the side wall 48 thereof and provided with spray apertures 50. The bottom wall 52 thereof may be rectangular in shape, and there may be provided the extended shoulder portion 54. In Figure 10, a further modification of the arrangement is shown in which the side wall 58 of this gutter arrangement 56 is folded back upon itself to form a generally tubular semicylindrical portion 60 provided with spray apertures 62. The upper end wall 64 may be provided with an inwardly extending flange 66 as desired. In Figure 11, the arrangement of parts includes a generally semicylindrical bottom portion 68 for the gutter arrangement 70 and the conduit 72 is formed of the portion 76 of the side wall 78 being folded back upon itself as at 80 and then folded in an arcuate manner, as at 82, to form the opposed lips 84 and 86 of the conduit at the juncture of which the depressions 88 are in alignment so as to form a communication with the conduit portion 72. It is noted that the depressions 34 are likewise in alignment with the lip portions 33 and 35 formed from the portions 32 of the side wall 30 being folded or bent back upon themselves.

Connected to the gutter 26 is a downspout 90 of suit able cross-sectional area so as to assure proper flow without hindrance of all of the fluid from the gutter 26, it being recognized that a plurality of gutters can be connected to the downspout 90. The downspoutv 90 flares,

employing a .semicylindrical as'a't'92,-in'to an' enlarged widened portion 94 provided with a" door'96 hinged as at 98 and provided with a suitable latch 100. The door is adapted to permit access into the interiorof the portion 94 of the downspout so as. to permit access to the" basket 102 mounted therein, the basket 102 being preferably of wire mesh or the like and beingprovided with a handle 104. The'basketis' of sufficient'size as to permit the entrapment of leaves and other debristh'erein while permitting the fluid to' drain there'- from irra rapid manner and into the'collecting trough 106 atthebase'of thedownspout portion 94, the trough 106 being connected to the sewer pipe or drain conduit 108.

The operation of this'arrangement for maintaining the gutterin a'clean' and efficientmanner is as follows: with the hot water valve 12 and the cold water valve 14 set to the desired temperature of the mixture of the inlet cleaning fluid, the. valve 20 may bev opened to permit the Waterpressure to cause the Water to rise to the level of the: gutter, at which time a suitable amount of fluid will pass through the'openings formed by the depressions 34 and drive the fluid toward the downspout 90 which is.

sufficient for the collection of the water of any suitable number of gutter portions; The gutter may be positioned at a suitable angle to assure proper drainage into the downspout 90, if such is desired. This fluid will cause the leaves and other debris-collecting in the downspout to be'washed into thebasket 102. Then, the basket may be, removed for dumping'and' disposal of the debris which has been. collected.

The foregoing is'considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous.

modifications and changes will readily occur to those:

skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact'construction' and operation described andshown, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Whatis claimed as newis as follows:

1. A self-cleaning gutter arrangement comprising in combination with an inlet conduit anelongated: gutter-of trough shape. having. a tubular offset in one side wall thereof,,said sidewalLhaving a series of openingstherein, said depressions communicating with said" tubular offset; said. tubular ofiset' forming lips, said openings being. in

alignment with said lips.

' Referencesfiited in the file of this patent I UN ITED STATES' PATENTS 543,922 Buckley Aug. 6, 1895' 131-3329 Supplee' July" 7, 1931 2,204,416 Kramer June 11, 1940. 2233;766 Bog'ert Mar. 4, 1941 2,532,388 Batt Dec. 5, 1950" 2;624';29'9' Beegle Jan. 6, 1953 

